The big 10-mile race at Whitefish Falls is about to begin and the town is betting on its own John Onaman, a runner of great endurance. But John is worried about his sick sister.

Roger Lemieux arrives in Bourke's Creek to do a story about the town whose industry died when its mine was closed. But he encounters hostility from the townspeople.

After a near accident with his Great Lakes tug, it looks as if Dougal MacGregor may be losing his eyesight. But the stubborn old codger won't admit he's having recurrent blurred vision.